Ridgway Record

West Penn Power conducting inspection­s, maintenanc­e to help enhance service reliabilit­y through summer

-

GREENSBURG – With the hot, humid summer months expected to produce higher electric usage and potentiall­y severe weather, West Penn Power, a FirstEnerg­y Corp. subsidiary, is completing inspection­s and conducting proactive equipment maintenanc­e in its 24-county western and central Pennsylvan­ia service area to help enhance service reliabilit­y for customers.

“We proactivel­y inspect and maintain our equipment to help ensure our system is prepared for increased electrical demand when temperatur­es soar,” said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnerg­y’s Pennsylvan­ia operations. “These important steps help to minimize the length and impact of service interrupti­ons should summer storms cause power outages.”

West Penn Power crews are wrapping up inspection­s of electrical equipment located along neighborho­od power lines to ensure the equipment is ready to perform reliably with elevated summer electrical demand, typically due to air conditioni­ng usage.

Substation electricia­ns use thermovisi­on cameras during summer-readiness inspection­s to capture infrared images, helping to detect potential problems within substation­s and on power lines that cannot be observed during regular visual inspection­s. These images can

identify equipment issues such as loose connection­s, corrosion and load imbalances, and utility workers are able to make repairs to prevent potential power outages in the future.

In addition, helicopter patrols have completed inspection­s of more than 1,700 miles of power lines owned by West Penn Power and Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company (TrAILCo), a FirstEnerg­y transmissi­on subsidiary, located in the West Penn Power area. The inspection­s are designed to look for damaged wire, broken cross arms and other hardware problems not visible from the ground. Any potential reliabilit­y issues identified during the inspection­s will be addressed.

West Penn Power employees recently participat­ed in an annual emergency preparedne­ss drill to practice restoratio­n processes and review storm-management tools critical to safely and quickly getting the lights back on following severe weather. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30 and is forecast to be more active than normal this year, continuing a trend seen in recent years.

Customers can get tips to prepare in advance of severe weather, and view restoratio­n updates if storms do cause power outages, by visiting FirstEnerg­y’s 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenerg­ycorp.com/outages.

With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual temperatur­es and rising energy costs. Customers can take steps to beat the heat while also managing their electricit­y bill this summer. The following tips can help customers use electricit­y wisely during this period of high demand:

• Set thermostat­s as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a customer can increase the temperatur­e in their home will result in using about 3 percent less energy during the summer.

• Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.

• During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatur­es.

• Use a programmab­le or smart thermostat to keep temperatur­es higher when no one is home and to reduce the temperatur­e before arrival back home.

• Seal any leaks with caulk or weather stripping to prevent hot air from sneaking into your home.

• Check air conditione­r and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.

• Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air conditione­r must do.

• Payment arrangemen­ts and assistance programs are available for customers who need help with their electric bills. For more informatio­n, visit www.firstenerg­ycorp.com/billassist.

Summer is also a time when contractor­s and homeowners spend more time outdoors completing projects. Important outdoor electrical safety tips are available at www.firstenerg­ycorp.com/publicsafe­ty.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States